Rather than celebrating with family and friends, eating cake, and having a party, Ahed will spend her birthday in a military courtroom. She will sleep that night in a prison cell.

Los Angeles is joining the "International Day of Action to #FreeAhed," marking Ahed's birthday and opening of her trial with actions planned in cities including Oakland, Chicago, Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Washin...gton DC, New York City, São Paulo, Berlin, Göteborg, Athens, Hebron and more.

BACKGROUND: On December 18, 2017, in the middle of the night, the Israeli army burst into the Tamimi family home and arrested 16-year-old Ahed Tamimi. They beat her father, mother, older and younger brothers and confiscated the families laptops, phones and cameras.

Ahed is a high school student preparing for college. She lives in a Palestinian village famous for women leadership in resistance to the occupation. As a young girl, Ahed rose to headlines for her bravery to confront the Israeli soldiers who enter her village on a regular basis. Now she sits in a jail cell, waiting for her release.

Israel is refusing to release Ahed Tamimi on bail pending trial. “The court said that because she is so dangerous there is no possibility of bail,” said her lawyer, Gaby Lasky. Israel remains the only country in the world that prosecutes children in military courts, the Defense for Children International – Palestine (DCIP) rights group.

Ahed is one of about 360 Palestinian children in Israeli prison and nearly 6,200 total Palestinian political prisoners in Israeli jails. As her birthday approaches, take action to stand with Ahed and demand her freedom and that of her fellow imprisoned Palestinians!